Each new generation of Exposure’s compact UK-made cycling headlights brings more power, but this new Strada mk13 road bike light packs many more upgrades in the same CNC’d aluminum housing. More than 17% more road-tuned light output in the same lightweight, compact all-in-one format is great. But smarter automatic dimming of the high beam against oncoming traffic, ANT+ connectivity, USB-C charging, reverse powerbank function, improved display, and especially an all-new, more universal-fit mount really make this a much more versatile headlight for classic road, all-road, and gravel riding. And of course, there are bigger batteries inside too, to get a minimum 2-hour runtime on the brightest settign, and dozens of output modes to keep you riding up to 36 hours in the dark…
2026 Exposure Strada mk13 compact road bike headlights
Exposure calls the Strada their flagship road riding light. And while it may look almost exactly like their often-more-powerful off-road lights, there’s plenty of smart new tech inside this new road-specific headlight. While most of their off-road lights lean toward massive brute force light output to illuminate the trail ahead, the Strada mk13 is a bit more focused. Two high-powered LEDs offer up to 1700 (RS) or 2000 (SB) lumens in a controlled manner, equally splitting power between a wide, flat beam to light up the road just in front of you, and a more powerful, more-focused spotlight that pushes further down the road for high-speed visibility.
AKTiv auto-dimming 2.0
Probably the smartest Strada feature is its AKTiv auto-dimming of the high-beam spot light. Already optional in the previous generation, the new mk13 light gets better auto-dimming standard. The new Strada 13 adds a second forward-facing light sensor to better detect a wider spectrum of oncoming lights, so your headlight responds more quickly and accurately to oncoming traffic. This lets you run your light on max power even where you are sharing the road.
Plus, the new sensors and upgraded controls, smoothly ramp your own light output back up after traffic passes, so you can see clearly with less dramatic light output change.
And if you don’t want auto-dimming, you still have the option to disable it. Be advised though, Aktiv is typically not enabled as a default from Exposure’s UK factory, and requires an extra-long press of the single control button to enable it.
What else is new?
It seems like an obvious one, but Exposure has been gradually rolling out USB-C compatibility to each of their lights as they are upgraded. This speeds up charge times. But it also adds the ability to use the Strada 13 as a powerbank to charge external devices, too. You simply have to long-press to activate reverse charging.
The Stradas also include one of Exposure’s newest forged alloy mounts – a more universal, combined round bar AND GoPro-style mount. It still uses their secure quick-release keystone cleat attachment. But now all road lights come out of the box with a mount that will also fit many integrated cockpit setups.
And word from Exposure is that this new mount will also come standard on the MTB lights soon as well. Plus, it is also now available aftermarket, too!
Better display and connectivity
One other minor pain point for new users unfamiliar with Exposure controls is how one button and several different short/long/combo presses control everything. It’s something you can easily adapt to, but not really intuitive. But… now with a bigger OLED display and simple 3-color LED indicators, it’s much easier to see what is happening.
Single-press to check mode & battery status. Double-press to turn on, then single-press to change levels. Press and hold to cycle through mode options, activate Aktiv, and powerbank mode. Then, press and hold to turn off. It’s all much easier to understand with the easy-to-read display.
Lastly, Exposure also adds ANT+ connectivity, which let me pair the headlight with my Wahoo Elemnt cycling computers for easy touch screen controls, all in one place with my radar taillight controls. There’s also the option for a wireless remote, too. But with Aktiv auto-dimming and cycle-computer control, I can’t see much need for an extra remote switch.
Tech details
- >17% boosted light output: now 1700lm RS & 2000lm SB
- same 2-36 hour run times thanks to upgraded batteries and improved efficiency
- all-new quick-release cleat mount, compatible with 31.8mm, 35mm round bars, AND GoPro-style mounts
- new USB-C connection for faster charging and reverse powerbank functionality
- Aktiv auto high-beam dimming standard, now more accurate with 2 wide-spectrum light sensors
- new ANT+ connectivity to compatible cycling computers
- CNC-machined 6063 alloy housing with bolt-on cleat mount
- 2x Bright White XHP35.2 5700K LEDs for bright illumination
- road-specific beam pattern – 1x 13° focused spot to see far ahead, 1x flat 20°x100° beam for wide peripheral vision
- side cutouts in the housing for 240° visibility
- new larger OLED display for easier setup & status, plus 3-color LED indicators
- 1-button setup & control
- 7 typical programmable modes, each with 2-3 light output levels, plus flashing mode
- IP67 waterproofing for use in all weather conditions
- IK09 impact rating
- key dimensions:
– Strada mk13 RS: 105mm long x 50mm diameter, 8Ah Li-ion battery, 218g claimed (actual) weight
– Strada mk13 SB: 105mm long x 54mm diameter, 12Ah Li-ion battery, 280g claimed weight - 100% UK-made in West Sussex, England
- Exposure warranties all lights for 2 years, 3 years if bought direct from their website, LEDs guaranteed for life
- designed to work for many years, Exposure also services (and can sometimes update) previous-generation lights for much longer
Riding with the new Strada 13 RS & Aktiv dimming
Having used Exposure lights on and off for more than a decade off-road, the new universal bar/GoPro mount was probably the first thing that impressed me with the Strada 13 before I even got it out of the box and turned it on. I like the quick release of Exposure’s cleat mount, but honestly struggled to like their original band clamp bar mount. The clamp felt fiddly, wasn’t quick to swap from one bike to the next, and was useless on integrated cockpits. (The most recent bar clamp update last year was at least a subtle improvement.)
Now, the new clamp is easier to fit to 31.8mm or 35mm bars, or importantly to fit under most out-front-style computer mounts. That’s a critical requirement in the days of integrated bars of road, gravel & mountain bikes. But is also opens up many more mounting possibilities for bikepacking, one type of riding we do quite a lot with lights bolted to our bikes these days.
Then, out on the road at night, I was really impressed with how smoothly and seamlessly the Aktiv automatic dimming worked. The high beam spot intensity drops immediately when it detects an oncoming light – both an approaching car or even another bike with a powerful headlight. And then, it smoothly ramps light output again once you pass the opposing traffic, delivering a seamless return to max illumination. It’s a feature that feels like it would be great for any type of riding that would ever meet other road or trail users, even off-road.
On-Road Takeaways
So far, the 1700 lumen output of the Exposure Strada 13 RS feels like plenty for road riding. But I could also see the 2000lm SB version as a better fit for gravel. If you need more power, the cheaper, lighter 2650lm Race 19 would be nice for more off-road riding, but without the convenience of Aktiv dimming and road-tuned beam pattern that are really nice for gravel roads, and much better anywhere you share with traffic.
The Strada is designed to work above or below the bar – with laser-etched side graphics in both orientations as a reminder. The 2 LED layout isn’t exactly symmetrical top to bottom, though. While I think Exposure lights have traditionally been designed for mounting over the bar, I actually prefer the light cast with the Strada under the bar (like I have it here), as it has a bit more of a pronounced upper edge cutoff, with little excess light cast up into the sky.
But while Exposure offers more powerful options in similar form factors and pricing levels, this combination of more versatile on-road features – combining smart dimming, road-tuned beam pattern, upgraded display, and ANT+ connectivity – makes the new Strada 13 family a solid option for long road, all-road & gravel riding as darkness creeps in with the return of ever-shorter days.
Exposure Strada mk13 road bike headlights – Pricing, options & availability
The new 13th generation of Exposure’s Strada roadie headlight now comes in two versions. Both of which include the Aktiv auto-dimming as standard. The Strada mk13 RS is the standard Road Sport version, retailing for £355 /$385 / 355€ with its 1700 lumen peak output.
The slightly larger diameter, slightly heavier Strada mk13 SB, aka Super Bright, version sells for £415 / $450 / 415€ with a peak 2000 lumen output. That makes it more suitable for a bit of off-road gravel riding, too. Both also come standard with the new 35/31.8mm round bar clamp and detachable GoPro-style mount, and a USB-C to C charging cable with built-in LED indicator (but no charger).
Pick up either one now, directly from Exposure’s website or their global retailer network.
